#Newsletter
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Water for Life
Innovation in sustainability makes water available to countless families Water is a human right. We believe that in a world where balance is present, no one should go without it. When it is absent, made scarce, and altogether restricted by man or nature it causes widespread devastation. For those of us who enjoy the privilege of uninterrupted water access, we can forget easily how the day-to-day difficulty of purifying, finding, and guarding water can be. Making water accessible to communities across the world has remained a priority to IRUSA because there are few substantial changes we can make in the lives of the families we serve without it. In Kenya,…
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IRUSA Launches Partnership with ShariaWiz
Innovative service makes Islamic inheritance a pain free experience. A duty upon us all The Prophet Muhammad, ﷺ, said, “It is not permissible for any Muslim who has something to will to stay for two nights without having his last will and testament written and kept ready with him.” August is National Make-a-Will Month and we are taking this opportunity to encourage everyone to take care of their religious obligation of preparing an Islamic will. A partnership that makes sense Islamic Relief USA has partnered with Shariawiz.com, a do-it-yourself, easy, and affordable platform that has an abundance of information about Islamic wills and a scholar-certified Islamic Inheritance Calculator. Shariawiz is the premier…
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Eyes on Yemen: Preventing a compounded Crisis
COVID-19 looms over Yemen As we in the Western world grapple with the realities of just how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected our lives. It can be easy to overlook the fact that we may have access to resources that lessen its impact. Some of us have seen this pandemic out, safe in the knowledge that we are protected by a functioning health care system as well as other vital services. Unfortunately, that is not the case for countless brothers and sisters all over the world. In particular, at this point in time, for brothers and sisters in Yemen. Dubbed by many as “The World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis,” the situation…
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From Farm to Family: Your Qurbani is an Act of Love
It’s here! It only seems like yesterday we were celebrating Eid-al-Fitr, and fast approaching in the not too distant future is Eid-al-Adha. This truly is a special time of year, for everyone involved, so it’s time to get prepared. The blessings are around the corner. Which means it’s time to start thinking about Qurbani. The act of Qurbani is a time-honoured tradition of significant importance and holds a deep meaning to all Muslims. Each year we sacrifice an animal to feed those in need, honoring the sacrifice that Prophet Ibrahim made with his willingness to sacrifice his son, Prophet Ismail, for Allah. The Qurbani sacrifice takes place during the Eid…
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A Grand Iftar We’ll Never Forget
Communities gather virtually to contribute to IRUSA’s emergency aid Islamic Relief USA held its first-ever “virtual” Grand Iftar on April 26. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the large in-person gathering was unable to take place at a hotel in the D.C.-area as it normally would. While the format was different, the program nonetheless provided viewers/guests an evening of enlightenment, reflection, and several opportunities to support various organization programs around the world. Projects in countries where Islamic Relief has a rather large footprint were highlighted, including Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen. Anwar Khan, president and cofounder of IRUSA, talked about the need to support immediate and long-term programs in Pakistan, particularly Balochistan and Rawalpindi,…
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A Green Ramadan begins with Water
See how water conservation will help us all in the future Water is the most valuable resource on earth. All living beings on earth need water to survive. Many people and industries continue wasteful habits, endangering the entire world. This Ramadan let us reflect about water and its importance. You have been fasting all day long, and just can’t wait for sunset so that you can drink and eat again. But what about those who do not have access to clean water? Let this Ramadan be a way of educating yourself and others about water 1) Water and the Quran: Water has been mentioned in the Quran on several occasions.…
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A Global Crisis Means A Global Response
IRUSA ramps up support to communities devastated by COVID-19 Millions of dollars’ worth of emergency assistance to more than 20 at-risk countries has been released by Islamic Relief (of which Islamic Relief USA is a part of) in a bid to stem the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, help those infected and support vulnerable communities that have been the hardest hit. I Thousands of hygiene kits containing essentials like hand sanitizer, surgical masks and thermometers have already been delivered to high-risk communities in places like Syria and Afghanistan where vital health infrastructure has crumbled due to conflict. In the coming week, more critical assistance such as ventilators, lab kits and…
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One-on-One with Congressman André Carson
Indiana representative provides a window into policy decisions in the pandemic Watch recording here A Sliver of Hope Indiana Rep. Andre Carson (D-7) said on Wednesday, April 8, that he hopes to have another bill of the CARES ( Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act enacted to address some of the issues that weren’t included in the first round. The CARES Act is a $2.2 trillion stimulus bill recently passed by Congress to address the various social and economic aftereffects of the coronavirus outbreak (formally known as COVID-19) that have brought much of the worldwide economy to a standstill. The holding pattern has caused record unemployment (more than 10…
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Earth Day in Focus: Our Planet is Getting a Chance to Breathe
“Today I stepped outside for the first time for a very long time,” one of my Facebook friends wrote on her wall. “and guess what! I could smell the air!” she wrote. The post was part of her daily chronicles describing her experience while being quarantined as a result of COVID-19 in New Jersey. I can smell the air! What a simple, yet so powerful and meaningful exclamation. Air Pollution kills Millions of People Every Year As today is World Earth Day, her post got me thinking. What is so exceptional about being able to smell the air? Isn’t that supposed to be the normal situation? Not in our modern…
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Why We can’t Forget Yemen
A look at where the world’s most devastating humanitarian crisis stands today. “We are needy people and this basket helps us to get the basic food and this is the situation of many needy families in the area..when I received the basket from Islamic Relief, the happiness spread among the family members and my children feel very happy…it is not a problem for us to sleep hungry or to eat bread all times but it is a problem for the children.” Hallah Ali Mohammed, Ibb province Still facing hardship It has been five years since the conflict in Yemen, one of the Arab World’s poorest countries, escalated in 2015. Up…
